Shoe midsole construction



July 7, 1942. '.i. H. DAVIS 2,289,180

SHOE MIDSOLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 6, 1940 l' l/ s W i ATTORNEY resented idly t, y'

artefice ytorsion.

My invention relates generally to footwear and more particularly to a shoe midsole construction and my present invention is an improvement on the shoe covered by U. S, Letters Patent No.- 2,1l0,52l issued to me March 8. 1938, also the shoe construction forming the subject matter of my copending application for patent died February "l, leali, Seriallilo. Blll. y Y

vThe principal objects oi my presentv invention are, to generally improve upon the shoe con structions disclosed in my aforesaid issued patent and copendin'g patent application and iurther, to provide a one-piece sole construction for shoes that combines a midsole, an outsoleand heel liit.

By forming the midsole, outsole, and heel lift, from a single piece oi material, forl instance, rubber or other emble material, a more speedy, simple and inexpensivc'method of manufactur ing midsole shoes is provided and at the same time imparting to the shoe increased eiibility and durability and in `addition giving comfort to the wearer ci the shoe.

A, further object oi my invention is, to provide an improved midsole construction that will en able shoe manufacturers to greatly simplify the forming and assembly oi the midsole, heei liit, and outsole, and at the same time reducing the costs of material and labor involved.

The present method ci construction oi mid-A soleshoes involves the lasting of the shoe upper directly` onto the insole. The heel lift is then formed to fit onto the rear mrtion oi' the midsole and heel lift are generally composed of felt, cork,

paper, or Wood. The felt and paper have, a tendency to cause the covering to Wrinkle and thereby detract materially from its appearance." The wood and cork `when beveled thin at thel edges and which lieveling is necessary, frequently crack and break, particularly where any appreclable degree of pressure is utilized in at- These undesirable results-reduce the shoe readily susceptible toflamage and the shoe in addition to being uncomfortable to the wearer has a relatively short life or period of service.

In. my improved midsole construction, the midjsole, heelliit, and outsole, are formed from a single piece of flexible material aud there being a continuous channel formed entirely around the marginal portion of the one-piece body and extending inwardly from the edge thereof, which channel receives the lower portion of the coverfing meniberl for the midsole and heel lift, which covering isusually formed of fabric, and that added portion of the body below the channel performing the functions of an outsole.

With the' foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of constructionand'v arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and A claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawingintvbich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevationalview of a combined rig. sin e; view looking against the under side oi the combined midsole, heel lift, and outsole.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the'midsole con-A struction,I with the fabric coveringV member in taching the assembled midsole, heel lift. covering. Y and outsole, to the lasted upper and insole. yli'ormed between the marginalportions of the position on the marginal portions oi the midsole and heel lift and with a portionof Athe structure near the center thereof broken away.

Fia e is a vertical cross section taken on the line :Q -d .of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view oi 'a shoe assembled on a last, with a portion of the upper and cover for the midsole and heel liit broken wy. i

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section taken on the line eut of Fig. 5. I

Referring by numerals drawing ialliicli illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, i@ designates the midsole, ii the outsole, and i2 the heel lift. These parts are formed in a single piece from elastic or exible material, for instance, sponge rubber, a exible composition of which rubber is an ingredient,

or other suitable exible material, either elastic y .or nom-elastic. V

The heel lift portion is provided by gradually increasing the thiclmess ci the midsole from its intermediate portion toward its rear endf and Fig. 1.

to the accompanying midsole I and outsole II is a narrow channel or groove I 3 that projects inwardly from the side faces of said midsole and outsole, said channel being provided for the reception of the lower portion of the fabric cover for the midsole and heel lift portion of the structure.- To compensate for the thickness of the fabri covering on the sides of the midsole and heel lift, the outsole II is extended a slight distance beyond the side faces of the body of material forming the midsole and heel lift as designated by I4 and thus when the cover is properly applied to the midsole and heel lift, the outer edge or face of the outsole Il lies practically flush with the outer face of the cover (see Figs. 3 and 4) The cover for the side faces of the midsole and heel lift and which is designated by the numeral I5 is preferably formed from a single piece of fabric or the like and it overlies all portions of the side and end faces of the midsole and heel lift, with the lower portion of said cover extending into the groove or channel Il as designated by I6, and the upper portion of said cover overlies the marginal portions of the upper faces of the midsole and heel lift as designated by I'I. This cover is secured to the body of material forming the midsole and heel lift and to the upper face of the outsole below the channel I3 by a suitable adhesive. y

Thus after the covering is applied to the midsole structure, its inturned lower edge is very firmly heldin the channel I3 and the inturned upper edge is clamped between the upper surfaces of the midsole and heel lift and the inturned portion of the upper.

After the midsole structure has been completed and the side covering applied thereto, said strucheel lift, and an outsole, and with a separatelyformedl cover rmly secured to the4 side faces of the midsole and heel lift.

The one-piece midsole. heel lift, and outsole. embodying my invention, is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it isintended.

Itwill be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved shoe midsole construction, maybe made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

As a new article of manufacture a combined sole and heel construction formed from a single piece of composite material and comprising a midsole that gradually increases in thickness toward its rear end so as tc provide a heel lift, a flat outsole on the underside of said midsole and heel lift, the marginal portion of said outsole being separated from the midsole and heel lift by a continuous channel of uniform width and depth and a cover secured on the faces of said midsole and`hee1 lift with the lower portion of said cover extending into and fastened Within said channel.

JOHN H. DAVIS. 

